Stories: The Flying Nun
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| My companion Sister Hansen and I, were serving in Wallsend, Newcastle. We lived
in the main street above the shops. We had just finished teaching an elderly man the first discussion at the local park. Sister Hansen and I decided to go home for lunch. Upon reaching our upstairs apartment, we realized neither
of us felt like making our lunch. We decided and agreed on eating "Fish & Chips." Now Sister Hansen & I, each had a key to our apartment, and we would always
check to make sure that at least one of us, had our key to gain access to our home. On this day, we failed to check with one another, because we enabled our hungry tummies to get the better of our judgement. We went across the road, to the local Fish & Chips shop, and ordered our meal. We rushed back
across the road to our apartment. Sister Hansen, looked at me, and I at her. My companion asked where my key was, and I asked where her key was. We both looked
at the door, in shock, with our Fish & Chips in hand. Sister Hansen, then came up
with an idea, not an original one of course, it was based around, the previous Elders
whom we heard used to lock themselves out quite frequently, but they had always
managed to get back into the apartment via the back entrance. which of course was easier said, than done. The Elders would have climbed onto the roof of the shed, and then up onto another adjacent roof to gain access to the upstairs apartment. We made our way to the back entrance, and stood by the brick shed, which stood at approximately 15 feet high. My companion then proceeded to explain
to me that she had Army training experience, and was used to climbing. (Good on Her!).
There was no way that I was going to be climbing, I had my sore back to consider,
which was damaged earlier in the mission field. We grabbed a big green wheelie
bin, and placed it in front of the old brick shed window, which had steel bars to protect
it from any possible break-ins. Sister Hansen climbed onto the wheelie bin, and I held firm ensuring she would not lose her balance. My companion then held firmly onto the steel bars, then placed her feet onto the crevice, her long lanky arms and hands then grabbed firmly onto the gutter of the roof. At this
point I was quite impressed, she was doing a great job. I knew if she was able to make it
onto the roof of the brick shed, she would have no problems making it across the other side. As I stood directly underneath her, Sister Hansen began pushing herself up onto the roof. At this point her feet were
placed in between the steel bars of the window. I started to rejoice, but then suddenly, the gutter shook violently, and Sister Hansen lost her balance, and fell
backwards. I was standing directly underneath her, and could see my companion falling towards me, and just for a split second, I placed my arms forward, as if to catch her, or to try and break her fall, but then I remembered I had a sore back, and withdrew my arms, and just in the knick of time, I moved out of her way. Sister Hansen
landed in the exact spot in which I stood only moments earlier. For a minure she lay flat on
her back, on the grass verge. I was in a state of shock, I panicked and screamed. Sister Hansen opened her eyes, and told me she was fine, and that she only had the wind knocked out of her. My heartache, soon turned to relief. My companion picked herself up, and became more determined than ever to try again, and not even my persuasion would stop her. Well unfortunately her last words, before she fell off the roof a second time, would remain deeply embedded in my mind til this day. "Sister Semu, if the Elders can do it, so can I." Sister Hansen was admitted to the local Hospital for afew days with the misfortune of dislocating her little finger and hurting her lower back. She recuperated very quickly, much to the doctors amazement My companion showed how fearless she could be. We thoroughly enjoyed our time serving with each other and serving the wonderful people in Newcastle. I will always remember her as Sister FEARLESS. |
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